WO2007129170A2

WO2007129170A2 - Improved refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2007129170A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/001085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gianluca Francolini
Original assignee: Antonio Merloni S.P.A.
Priority date: 2006-04-28
Filing date: 2007-04-25
Publication date: 2007-11-15
Also published as: WO2007129170A3

Abstract

It is described a refrigerating appliance, in particular a household freezer appliance, provided with a cabinet (1) on whose sides (101) horizontal ribs (102) run, on which at least one rack or drawer (2) rests and runs, whose accidental escape is prevented by special travel end stops (607), part of a locking means (5) comprising two brackets (6), and provided with at least one evaporator (3) of the refrigerating circuit arranged horizontally at said ribs (102). Each bracket (6) is provided with a tang (602) that inserts in a slot (8) obtained in the corresponding side (101), whereas the travel end stops (607) are arranged lower than the axis of said tang (602). According to the invention, said brackets (6) are brought and kept in operating position by joint means (602, 8; 602, 8, 9) that lock said brackets (6) in said sides (101).

Description

IMPROVED REFRIGERATOR

DESCRIPTION

The object of the present invention, which refers to refrigerators or freezers, in particular for household use, is simple means adapted both for locking, in the cabinet of such appliances, shelves or coils of the cooling circuit evaporator, and for acting as safety travel end stop against the possibility of complete removal of any drawers or racks.

According to a possible variation thereof, said means also acts as hinge and connection for any flap doors.

Document DE 2 638 364 describes brackets to be attached at the front edge of the cabinet sides; they are provided with dovetail inserts inserted from the front. In turn, the brackets support section bars that act as front support for the evaporators. The solution proposed seems quite complicated and, since it remains exposed on the front edge of the cabinet, it is also unaesthetic. Removal seems as complicated as it requires tools that may scratch the cabinet surface. Documents DE 8 337 148 U and DE 8 437 617 envisage that the side guides intended for the side support of the evaporators are very accurately made, manufactured by moulding and then applied to the sides of the thermo-formed cabinet; such guides have the front ends shaped so as to couple, by snap-wise coupling, with corresponding brackets that act as front stops for the above evaporators. The solution is expensive and implies drilling the cabinet sides, thus allowing humidity to penetrate the insulating layer. Document DE 3 802 140 describes brackets to be attached to the cabinet sides by dual pin. It is uncertain that the coupling of the pins into the respective holes could be accurate enough to prevent wobbling and misalignments, unless the holes are made by drilling, exposing the insulator to humidity. Document EP 0 534 107 envisages brackets that are attached to the side walls but are also coupled to side guides and act as indirect support for the evaporator, besides as safety stop against the possibility of complete removal of any drawers or racks.

Document EP 1 431 687 envisages brackets that are attached to the side walls but are also coupled to side guides and act as indirect support for the evaporator, besides as safety stop against the possibility of complete removal of any drawers or racks.

Said latter document envisages a bracket provided with a tang with end enlarged in a substantially oval manner, which may be inserted in a hole made on the cabinet side; such hole has an equally oval profile but circular inside chamber, so that once inserted and suitably turned, the tang cannot come out.

The bracket, moreover, is prevented from rotating from its operating position by a tenon and mortise elastic coupling with the end of the corresponding side guide.

The front evaporator support is ensured by a crosspiece which, in turn, elastically couples with a tenon and mortise to the bracket.

A limit common to both previous documents is the fact that the ends of the side guides, obtained by thermo-forming, must be quite precise and with well shaped live edges; this extends the thermo-forming times and increases the risk of too thin thickness at the sharp edges. A first object of the invention is to obtain brackets for the indirect support of the evaporators and having the function of travel end stops.

A second object of the invention is to obtain such stop support functions without using the support/coupling with the side guides.

A third object of the invention is to free as much as possible from the accuracy requirements needed in the coupling of multiple parts. A fourth object of the invention is to make the cabinet thermo-forming process faster.

A fifth object of the invention is to make the manufacture and the assembly of the means required for the above functions much more inexpensive. A sixth object is to facilitate and speed up the process for coupling the brackets to the evaporators and/or the drawers and racks.

A further object of the invention is to use the same connection system for interchangeable brackets adapted for acting as support for the evaporators and/or travel end stops and/or hinges for doors. Such objects and further advantages are obtained by evaporator support and drawer travel end means according to one or more of the annexed claims. A possible embodiment of such evaporator support and drawer travel end means, hereinafter referred to, as a whole, as locking means for shortness, is described hereinafter with reference to the annexed drawing tables, wherein: - figure 1 shows a portion of the inner side of the cabinet of a freezer provided with the locking means according to the invention;

- figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e and 2f show multiple and perspective views of a bracket which is a part of said locking means;

- figures 3 a, 3 b and 3 c show the method for assembling said bracket to the side of the cabinet of a freezer; figures 4a and 4b show a detail of the method for assembling a crosspiece which is a part of the locking means according to the invention on said bracket; figures 5 a and 5b show a variation of bracket which is part of said locking means but also acts as hinge and coupling for any doors; figure 6 shows the variation of bracket of figures 5a and 5b with a door mounted;

- figure 7 shows a variation of the locking means according to this preferred embodiment of the invention represented so far in the previous figures; - figures 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f show multiple and perspective views of a bracket which is a part of said locking means, according to a preferred variation of the invention;

- figures 9a, 9b, 9c show the method for assembling said second preferred variation of the bracket to the side of the cabinet of a freezer; - figure 10 shows a detail of the coupling between the evaporator and the second preferred variation of the bracket that is a part of the locking means;

- figures 11a, lib, lie, Hd, lie, Hf, Hg, Hh show multiple and perspective views of said second preferred variation of bracket which is a part of the locking means; - figures 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d show multiple perspective view of the lines and directions of opening and movement of the mould chills and of the slides for making said second preferred variation of the bracket; figure 13 shows a further version for said second preferred variation of the bracket represented so far figures 8a to 12d. With reference to fig. 1, there is shown the inner side 101, obtained by thermo- forming of thermo-plastic material, of the cabinet of a freezer 1 (namely, the right side when looking at the freezer); horizontal ribs 102 obtainable by thermo- forming, on which possible racks or drawers 2 rest and run, run on side 101; at said ribs 102 there are also horizontally arranged evaporators 3 of the refrigerating circuit (in se known structure and mentioned in the aforesaid documents), adapted for acting also as support surfaces for the food to be stored.

Some of the cells 103 the inner space of cabinet 1 is divided into may be closed by flap doors 4. The drawing also shows multiple locking means 5 according to a first variation of the invention, each in turn comprising two mirror brackets 6 applied to both opposite sides 101 and a crosspiece 7a to said brackets 6 connected by releasable constraints.

Hereinafter, the directions of rotation mentioned shall be defined with reference to fig. 1 which shows the right side 101 of cabinet 1: clockwise rotation is a rotation that is clockwise relative to the plane of said figure. With reference to figs. 2 and 3, on the inner side 601 close to side 101, said brackets 6 are provided with joint means 602, 8 for the bayonet coupling on side 101. As known, bayonet coupling means comprise,

- a suitably shaped tang, - a slot having an inlet hole, properly shaped as well, wherein said tang can penetrate and be rotated up to encountering rotation end stops that when reached prevent the tang from coming out of said slot,

- any snap-wise locking means of the coupling into the setup reached at the end of the rotation. In the example of figure 2, tang 602 of the bayonet coupling 602, 8 comprises a stem 603 and an end 603e having the external edge 603e shaped as a toroidal body 603e with outer diameter greater than that of stem 603. Said toroidal body 603e is truncated into two portions by two faces 605a and 605b and by a further rotation end stop 606, all substantially plane and parallel to said stem 603. On the outer side 608, opposite the inner side 601 and facing cells 103 of cabinet 1, bracket 6 carries a tenon 609 for the coupling thereon of said crosspiece 7a (see also fig. 4) and can be further provided with a pin 610 and a coupling means 611 (see fig- 6). Moreover, along the edge thereof, bracket 6 exhibits a safety travel end stop surface 607 in a zone which, when bracket 6 is arranged in operating position, is lower than the axis of said tang 602 and facing inwards of cabinet 1, so that the collision of stop 201 of the drawer or rack 2 against said travel end stop 607 cannot cause the undesired upturning of said bracket 6. Bracket 6, finally, on the inner side 601 may be provided with a locking tooth 612. Said bracket 6 can be made by plastic material injection moulding.

With reference in particular to fig. 3a, slots 8 of the joint means 602, 8 for bayonet coupling are provided on sides 101 of cabinet 1 in the proximity of the outermost ends of ribs 102. Said slots 8 are easily obtained during the thermo-forming process of sides 101, although they are provided with a slight undercut. Slot 8 has a circular chamber 801, except for the stop face 804; said chamber 801 is adapted for fully seating tang 602 of bracket 6, but it faces outwards with a hole 806 of profile 802, 803, 804, substantially with the same pattern as the profile of the external edge 603e, 605a, 605b, 606 of end 603e of tang 602. In the example of the figures, profile 802, 803, 804 of said hole 806 is circular except for the two substantially flat edges 803 and the stop face 804; said profile 802, 803, 804, therefore, is shaped so as to allow the inlet of said tang 602 only if it is presented suitably rotated (see fig. 3b) while chamber 801 (see fig. 3c) allows a clockwise rotation of said bracket 6 to the operating position only as long as the rotation end stop face 606 does not hit against the stop face 804. Said rotation end stop face 606 and stop face 804 in fact are the rotation end stop means 606, 804 of the bayonet coupling. It is clear that two edges 803, with bracket 6 in operating position, prevent the tang 602 from coming out.

Slot 8 can be further usefully provided with a locking channel 805 capable of engaging with said locking tooth 612 when bracket 6 is in operating position, so as to form said snap- wise locking means 612, 805 of the bayonet coupling.

According to a preferred embodiment, among all the possible types of equivalent bayonet couplings, the two faces 605a and 605b and stop face 606 are vertical when bracket 6 is in operating position whereas said two edges 803 have horizontal laying and the stop face 804 vertical laying. With reference to figures 3 b and 3 c, the assembly of a bracket 6 on a side 101 therefore takes place

— rotating bracket 6 itself by 90° in clockwise direction relative to the operating position,

- inserting tang 602 thoroughly into chamber 801, - rotating bracket 6 itself again by 90° in counter clockwise direction to return it to operating position.

The stop face 804, which reaches the stop against the stop face 606 when bracket 6 is brought to the operating position, prevents any further rotation of the bracket in counter clockwise direction. If envisaged, the snap-wise locking means 612, 805 of the bayonet coupling prevents any further movement of the bracket relative to side 101; that type of lock is more required to carry the appliance than during the operating conditions and therefore is not necessarily so tightened as to prevent a release of bracket 6 without the aid of tools. At that point, with reference to figures 4a and 4b, it is possible to secure the support of evaporator 3 at the front inserting the front edge 301 thereof into slot 701 of crosspiece 7a, after which mortises 702 of crosspiece 7a itself are elastically forced to engage on tenons 609 of brackets 6. By virtue of the means described, the fixing of evaporators 3 is steady and irremovable although brackets 6 are only constrained to said slots 8 as described above.

As already said, in operating position the travel end stop 607 is lower than the axis of said tang 602; the travel end stop 607 serves for preventing the accidental escape of drawers or racks 2; the thrust of stop 201 of the drawer or rack 2 against the travel end stop 607 exerts a counter clockwise action on bracket 6 whose rotation, however, is prevented at least by the stop face 804, so that any possibility of rotation of the bracket itself is prevented.

Going now to figures 5a, 5b and 6, there is shown a bracket 6 provided with additional means 610, 611 for hinging and coupling a door 4 suitably provided with slots 401 for rotating flap-wise on pins 610 and with supports 402 for being supported straight by the coupling means 611. In particular, with reference to figure 5 a, said pin 610 is shown cylindrical with smooth outer surface but nothing prevents said pin 610, typically for moulding requirements, from being made, for example, cylindrical grooved or with other similar shapes suitable for the purpose. Such device is in se known but it should be noted that it may be easily applied also to the locking means 5 according to the present invention. In fact, the opening action according to the direction of arrow 404 does not transmit strains to bracket 6, since supports 402 easily go beyond the coupling means 611, while, even accidentally exerting a strain while closing according to the direction of arrow 403, the counter clockwise rotation is prevented by said rotation end stop means 606, So far, the elastic coupling between tenon 609 of bracket 6 and mortise 702 of crosspiece 7a have been shown in the embodiment known from document EP 1 431 687. Such solution, also for the presence of slot 701, requires making crosspiece 7a by injection moulding.

With reference to fig. 7, on the other hand, it is seen that an alternative solution is possible, which envisages a crosspiece 7b, obtained from section bar of any suitable material, therefore optionally sturdier than plastic materials, provided with a slot 701b that extends by the entire length of crosspiece 7b itself. The ends of such crosspiece 7b fit in a variation of bracket 6 which to this end is provided with elastic means 613 and 614 adapted for tightening said crosspiece 7b between each other, for example a tooth 613 and a shoulder 614, whereas the central portion of slot 701b receives and supports the front edge 301 of evaporator 3. It is clear that several variations are possible to the man skilled in the art for making said bracket 6, without departing from the novelty scopes of the inventive idea, as it is clear that in the practical embodiment of the invention, the various components described above may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. With reference to figures 8a to 8f or similarly from 11a to Hh, there is shown a second preferred variation of bracket 6.

On side 608, opposite the inner side 601, said bracket 6 carries a portion 7c of suitable length substantially orthogonal to sides 101 of cabinet 1. Said portion 7c consists in an arm of bracket 6 which also in this variation comprises a seat 701 for the insertion and the support of the front edge 301 of evaporator 3. With reference to figure 10, therefore, it is possible to secure the support of evaporator 3 at the front, inserting the front edge 301 thereof inside said seat 701 of arm 7c, which extends from the outer side 608 of bracket 6, before said bracket 6, already inserted on side 101 of cabinet 1 through the joint means 602, 8 is definitely rotated in counter clockwise direction to be brought to operating position. With reference to figures 9b and 9c, the assembly of said bracket 6 on a side 101 of cabinet 1 therefore takes place:

- rotating bracket 6 itself by 90° in clockwise direction relative to the operating position,

- inserting tang 602 thoroughly into chamber 801, - partly rotating in counter clockwise direction bracket 6 up to insert the front edge 301 of evaporator 3 into seat 701 of arm 7c of bracket 6 itself,

- continuing the counter clockwise rotation of bracket 6 itself up to bringing it to the operating position.

By virtue of the means described, the lock of evaporators 3, into one or more cells 103 of cabinet 1, is obtained simultaneously upon the completion of the rotation for bringing said bracket 6 to the operating position.

Going back in particular to bracket 6 according to the variation just described, arm 7c of said bracket 6 has end 702, opposite face 608, closed by a joining surface 703, so as to allow the insertion inside the corresponding seat 701, of arm 7c itself, only by a limited portion of the front edge 301 of evaporator 3 (see figures 8a to 8f). However, nothing prevents said end 702 of arm 7c from being provided with an opening 704, as shown in fig. 13, so as to allow the insertion, in seat 701, of profiles 9 adapted for hiding also the entire front edge 301 of evaporator 3. Said profiles 9, besides covering the front edge 301 of evaporator 3, are also capable of acting as joint means 602, 8, 9 of brackets 6, forcing and locking them against sides 101 of cabinet 1 and thereby preventing said tang 602 from escaping from slot 8 with brackets 6 in operating position; in this way it is clear that edges 803 of slot 8, described above, that prevent tang 602 from escaping from slot 8, with bracket 6 in operating position, are not required anymore. Bracket 6, both according the first preferred variation of the invention and according to the second preferred variation, seemingly complicated by injection moulding construction, as it is provided with many cavities, at least in the variations illustrated, actually requires a single slide, that is, a single core inside the mould and retractable with a single movement transversal to the mould opening direction. For example, with reference to figures 12a to 12d, continuous arrows indicate opening direction of the mould chills. Continuous lines are those along which the corners of the two edges meet on the surface of bracket 6.

Dashed lines indicate the retraction direction of the slide. Dotted lines are those along which the corners of the slide meet with one and the other chill on the surface of bracket 6.

Finally, the complicated shape and all the undercuts of bracket 6 can be solved with a single slide with orthogonal movement relative to the opening direction of the mould chills.

Of course, the same applies to the moulding of bracket 6 according to the first preferred variation of the invention.

Claims

IB2007/001085CLAIMS

1. Refrigerating appliance, in particular household freezer appliance, provided with a cabinet (1) on whose sides (101) horizontal ribs (102) run, on which at least one rack or drawer (2) rests and runs, whose accidental escape is prevented by special travel end stops (607) and provided with at least one evaporator (3) of the refrigerating circuit arranged horizontally at said ribs (102), wherein

- said travel end stops (607) are a part of a locking means (5) comprising two brackets (6), — each bracket (6) is provided with a tang (602) that inserts in a slot (8) obtained in the corresponding side (101),

- said travel end stops (607) are located lower than the axis of said tang (602), characterised in that said brackets (6) are brought and kept in operating position by joint means

(602, 8; 602, 8, 9) that lock said brackets (6) in said sides (101), in the proximity of the front ends of said ribs (102).

2. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that said means (602, 8) form a bayonet coupling (602, 8) comprising said tang

(602) and said slot (8), said brackets (6) being coupled bayonet-wise by rotating them in clockwise direction relative to the operating position and reaching the operating position when the rotation end stop means (606, 804) of the bayonet coupling come into reciprocal contact after being rotated in counter clockwise direction.

3. Refrigerating appliance according to any previous claim characterised in that at least one portion of the front edge (301) of said evaporator (3) is inserted in a support (7a, 7b, 7c) of said brackets (6).

4. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that said support (7a, 7b; 7c) of said brackets (6) is a crosspiece (7a, 7b).

5. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that said brackets (6) are provided with a portion (609) shaped such as to elastically couple to the ends of said crosspiece (7a; 7b).

6. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim, characterised in that said elastic coupling is provided with a tenon (609) constrained to said bracket (6) and mortises (702) obtained at the ends of said crosspiece (7a).

7. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 5 characterised in that said elastic coupling is provided with a means (613, 614) constrained to said bracket (6) and adapted for tightening said crosspiece (7b) between each other.

8. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that said means (613, 614) adapted for tightening said crosspiece (7b) between each other comprise a tooth (613) and a shoulder (614).

9. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 3 characterised in that said support (7a, 7b; 7c) of said brackets (6) consists in an arm (7c) that extends from the outer side (608) of the bracket (6) substantially orthogonal to the sides (101) of the cabinet (1).

10. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that said evaporator (3) is:

- inserted in said arm (7c) of the bracket (6) prior to the completion of the counter clockwise rotation that brings said bracket (6) to the operating position, - definitely locked inside one or more of said cells (103) of the cabinet (1) concurrently to the counter clockwise rotation for bringing and keeping the bracket (6) in operating position.

11. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that said arm (7c) is provided with a seat (701) for the easy insertion of a portion of the edge (301) of the evaporator (3).

12. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that the arm (7c) has the end (702), opposite the face (608) of the bracket (6), closed by a joining surface (703).

13. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 11 characterised in that said arm (7c) has the end (702), opposite the face (608) of the bracket (6), provided with an opening (704) for resting a portion of greater length than the front edge (301) of the evaporator (3).

14. Refrigerating appliance according to any previous claim characterised in that said bracket (6) is further provided with means (610, 401; 611, 402) for hinging and coupling a door (4).

15. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that the hinging of the door (4) to the brackets (6) takes place by

- pins (610) constrained to said brackets (6) in higher position than the axis of said tangs (602),

- and corresponding slots (401) obtained in the sides of said door (4).

16. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 14 characterised in that the coupling of the door (4) to the brackets (6) takes place by - coupling means (610) constrained to said brackets (6) in higher position than the axis of the pins (610),

- and corresponding supports (402) constrained to said door (4).

17. Refrigerating appliance according to any previous claim characterised in that the bayonet coupling comprises:

- a tang (602) constrained to the bracket (6) provided with a stem (603) and an end (603e) having the external edge (603e, 605a, 605b, 606) shaped as a toroidal body (603 e) with outer diameter greater than that of the stem (603) itself, said toroidal body (603 e) being truncated in two portions by two faces (605 a, 605b) and by a further rotation end stop face (606), all substantially flat and parallel to the axis of said stem (603),

- a slot (8) obtained in the side (101) in the proximity of the outermost ends of the ribs (102) and provided with a chamber (801): — adapted for fully seating said tang (602) and provided with a stop face (804),

- facing outwards with a hole (806) of profile (802, 803, 804) substantially with the same pattern as the profile of the external edge (603e, 605a, 605b, 606) of the ends (603e) of the tang (602) itself, wherein said rotation end stop face (606) and stop face (804) form the rotation end stop means (606, 804) of said bayonet coupling.

18. Refrigerating appliance according to at least claim 2 characterised in that the bayonet coupling further comprises snap-wise locking means (612,

805) of the bayonet coupling in the setup reached at the end of the rotation.

19. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that the snap-wise locking means (612, 805) comprise - a locking tooth (612) arranged on the inner side (601) of the bracket (6),

— and a corresponding locking channel (805) at said slot (8) and capable of engaging with said locking tooth (612) when bracket (6) is in operating position.

20. Refrigerating appliance according to any previous claim characterised in that the bracket (6) is obtained by plastic material injection moulding.

21. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that the bracket (6) can be moulded by a single slide with orthogonal movement relative to the opening direction of the mould chills.

22. Refrigerating appliance according to any previous claim characterised in that the slot (8) is obtained by thermo-forming.

23. Refrigerating appliance according to any previous claim characterised in that said crosspiece (7a, 7b) is obtained by plastic material injection moulding.

24. Refrigerating appliance according to any previous claim excluding 23 characterised in that said crosspiece (7b) is obtained by extrusion.

25. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 characterised in that said joint means (602, 8, 9) consist in a profile (9) that locks and forces said brackets (6) against the sides (101) of the cabinet (1) preventing said tang (602) from coming out of the slot (8) with the brackets (6) in operating position and said profile (9) being inserted in the opening (704) of the arm (7c) of said brackets (6).

26. Refrigerating appliance according to the previous claim characterised in that said profile (9) is obtained by plastic material injection moulding.

27. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 25 characterised in that said profile (9) is obtained by extrusion.